This Week in Books (June 22)

June has seen me reading my own books for a change, the one exception being my current read Intrusion by Mary McCluskey, a psychological drama taking in grief, a fragile marriage and a friendship from the past.

Ginny and Adam Trustlove arrive on holiday in Italy torn apart by personal tragedy. Two weeks in a boathouse on the edge of peaceful Lake Orta is exactly what they need to restore their faith in life – and each other.
Twenty-four hours later, the silence is broken. The Sale family have arrived at the main villa: wealthy, high-flying Marty, his beautiful wife Bea, and their privileged, confident offspring. It doesn’t take long for Ginny and Adam to be drawn in, especially when the teenage Pippi introduces a new friend into the circle. For there is something about Zach that has everyone instantly beguiled, something that loosens old secrets – and creates shocking new ones.
And, yet, not one of them suspects that his arrival in their lives might be anything other than accidental. Amazon

Now I’ve got a backlog of books to review from my holiday reading I am ready to tackle the 641 page Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, another of my 20 Books of Summer and one that I have been looking forward to reading for some time now.

Blurb

In 1914 Vera Brittain was 20, and as war was declared she was preparing to study at Oxford. Four years later her life – and the life of her whole generation – had changed in a way that would have been unimaginable in the tranquil pre-war era.
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH, one of the most famous autobiographies of the First World War, is Brittain’s account of how she survived those agonising years; how she lost the man she loved; how she nursed the wounded and how she emerged into an altered world. A passionate record of a lost generation, it made Vera Brittain one of the best-loved writers of her time, and has lost none of its power to shock, move and enthral readers since its first publication in 1933. Amazon

What are you reading this week? Do share in the comments envelope below!

26 thoughts on “This Week in Books (June 22)”

Quite a diverse bunch of books there, Cleo!
I’m afraid I haven’t been reading much over the past week or so, as I had a steady stream of courses to deliver and little time to prepare (why on earth did I agree to facilitate at this time of year, which is always frantic, and even more so this year?). But I love your post, because it always gives me a breathing space where I can look at my own pile of books.
I’ve recently finished Emma Cline’s The Girls, a coming of age story set in 1969 about un unhappy teenager who falls under the spell of the girls in the Manson Family, and am currently reading a very similar book called ‘My Favorite Manson Girl’ by Alison Umminger. Isn’t it strange how sometimes books on similar themes come out at the same time? I just thought it might be interesting to compare the two.
Next up, I am attacking my 20 books of summer list with verve, but I have Fred Vargas to read first in English for a review: A Climate of Fear. I read it in French just a short while ago and enjoyed it, so it should be fun (and easier for me to read).

Oh no that sounds like a bit of a nightmare Marina! I do like the sound of The Girls and yes it is odd how themes reappear – the first two on my list have the same underlying theme which is quite a coincidence since one was on my 20 books list anyway.

The setting for Other People’s Secrets really got my attention, Cleo. And the story of Vera Brittain sounds like a fascinating look at that generation and that time. Both really appeal, and I’ll be interested in your reviews.

Other People’s Secrets did have a fab setting and I’m so looking forward to the Vera Brittain although I’m doubting my wisdom in leaving it until I returned home as predictably life (by which I mean work) is fearsomely busy!

I have heard of Testament of Youth, but never really thought about reading it? But since you mentioned it, I think I’ll put on the TBR. WWI and the Lost Generation are interests of mine so this is something I’m sure to enjoy.

I love books about WWI and everything I’ve heard suggests this is going to be a fantastic read. So glad to hear you’ve put it on the TBR, it’s easy to forget some of the books you want to read otherwise 😉

Now Testatment of Youth could be a great idea for my next non-fiction read. I can imagine it’s fascinating and I see in the comments that it’s someone’s favourite book. It must be good! Off to add it to my TBR right now before I forget 🙂